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Architects,  Wood,  Donn  &  Deming 


Herringbone  Houses 


Being  a  presentation  of  some  of  the  advantages  of  cementine 
construction  for  houses,  together  with  mention  of  products  of 

The  General  Fireproofing  Co., 

of  Youngstown,  Ohio 

to  wit: 

PIN-CONNECTED  GIRDER  FRAMES,  COLD  TWISTED  LUG 
BARS,  EXPANDED  METAL,  TRUSSIT,  HERRINGBONE  EXPANDED 
STEEL  LATH,  KEY  AND  GENFIRE  EXPANDED  METAL  LATH, 
BOSTON  STEEL  LATH,  UNIVERSAL  STEEL  CORNER  BEAD, 
ALLUNITED  STEEL  STUDDING,  CRIMPED  AND  U  FURRING,  AND 

FURNITURE  AND  FILING  EQUIPMENT 

concerning  which  information  may  be  had  as  well  at  branch  offices  at 


161  Devonshire  St.,  -  Boston,  Mass. 

156  Fifth  Avenue,  -  -  New  York. 

794  Drexel  Building,  -  Philadelphia. 

725  Fourteenth  St.,  N.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

and  from  agents  in  all  cities  of  importance 


4  16  Hennen  Building  -  New  Orleans,  La. 
420  Lincoln  Trust  Building,  -  St.  Louis. 
115  Adams  St.,  -  -  Chicago. 

82  Second  St.,  -  •  San  Francisco, 


Office  Building  of  The  General  Fireproofing  Company  at  \  oungstown,  Ohio 
Siding  formed  by  cement  plaster  applied  over  Herringbone  Expanded  Steel  Lath 


HERE  is  much  to  be  considered  when  one  plans  a 
home.  An  arrangement  of  rooms  that  meets  the 
needs  of  everyday  comfort,  an  architectural  design 
that  bears  the  stamp  of  individuality,  a  choice  of 
practical  materials  so  that  first  cost  may  not  be 
excessive,  and  that  the  outlay  for  maintenance  may 
not  transform  the  investment  into  an  expense — all 
these  call  forth  the  exercise  of  ingenuity,  of  good 
taste,  and  of  judgment  founded  in  practical  experience. 

Stone  and  masonry  offer  many  advantages  for 
home  building,  but  their  use  has  been  limited  by 
the  high  cost.  Wood  has  been  used  primarily  be¬ 
cause  of  the  low  cost  of  raw  material,  the  facility 
with  which  it  may  be  used,  and  the  reasonably 
satisfactory  results  that  have  been  secured. 

Within  the  memory  of  the  passing  generation,  wood  was 
an  encumbrance  of  the  hills  of  the  Eastern  States.  So  that  the 
land  might  be  available  for  grain  growing,  it  was  “cleared."  Forests 
were  destroyed  by  fire  when  they  were  not  immediately  accessible  to 
waterways  which  provided  low-cost  transportation  to  the  market. 
When  the  cost  of  the  lumber  was  regulated  almost  solely  by  the 
expense  of  transportation  and  manufacturing,  and  not  by  the  supply, 
advantages  of  wood  as  a  structural  material,  naturally,  were  over¬ 
looked.  Its  inflammability,  forming  a  constant  menance  to  lives  and 
property,  its  lack  of  permanency,  entailing  frequent  bills  for  paint  to 
preserve  and  beautify  it,  the  impossibility  of  maintaining,  summer  or 
winter,  an  even  temperature  in  a  house  built  of  wood — these  are  some 
of  the  disadvantages  that  seemed  to  be  inevitable,  and  the  wooden 
house  was  accepted  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  best  for  the  money. 

Because  our  forest  wealth  seemed  to  have  no  limit,  we  have  been 
so  prodigal  in  its  use,  that  Xecessity  requires  a  substitute.  The  best 
grades  of  lumber  used  for  the  siding  of  houses  have  passed  entirely 


3 


from  the  market,  and  within  ten  years  the  advance  in  the  prices  of 
the  second  and  third  grades  has  been  more  than  50%. 

In  a  recent  bulletin  of  the  government  Bureau  of  Forestry,  statistics 
are  given  to  show  that  the  annual  consumption  of  lumber  in  this 
country  is  about  four  times  the  increment.  Even  now  we  are  exploiting 
the  last  great  timber  supply  on  this  continent — the  Pacific  coast  forests. 

So,  as  we  have  said,  Necessity  required  a  substitute  for  wood, 
and  in  her  search  for  the  substitute,  the  Parent  of  Progress  found  some¬ 
thing  better, — a  new  material,  Reinforced  Concrete,  which  meets  wood 
in  point  of  price,  and  which  possesses  the  advantages  of  being  fire¬ 
proof  and  not  subject  to  deterioration  from  any  cause. 

The  General  Fireproofeng  Company  manufactures  a  complete 
system  of  materials  for  reinforcing  concrete — Pin -Connected  Girder 
Frames,  Cold  Twisted  Fug  Bars,  and  Expanded  Metal  —  which  are 
used  largely  throughout  the  United  States  in  the  construction  of  Fire¬ 
proof  mill  buildings,  factories,  warehouses,  and  similar  structures,  where 
heavy  loads  tax  the  strength  of  the  building.  On  page  27  there  are 
illustrations  of  the  use  of  our  System.  Wood  buildings  could  be  built 
little  cheaper  than  these  fireproof  indestructible  structures  of  reinforced 
concrete. 

Another  of  our  products  is  Trussit,  by  which  fireproof  roofs  can 
be  built  at  approximately  the  cost  of  wood  roofs. 

We  are  the  largest  manufacturers  in  the  world  of  Metal  Path, 
Steel  Studding,  and  other  materials  for  the  erection  of  steel-and-plaster 
fireproof  partitions.  It  was  in  the  construction  of  such  partitions  that 
Metal  Path  was  first  used.  Its  advantages  for  the  construction  of  the 
outside  walls — the  “siding” — led  many  architects  of  prominence  to 
advocate  the  cementine  construction.  The  use  of  our  Herringbone 
Expanded  Steel  Path  as  the  foundation  for  cement  siding  has  become 
so  general  that  cement  plaster  houses  frequently  are  referred  to  as 
1  lerringbone  I  louses. 

It  is  the  primary  purpose  of  this  booklet  to  emphasize  the  points  of 
excellence  of  the  Herringbone  House.  The  pictures  tell  better  than  words 
how  well  this  type  may  be  adapted  to  widely  differing  architectural 
styles.  They  suggest  the  fact  that  where  beauty,  excellence  of  con¬ 
struction,  and  permanence  rather  than  cost  are  the  primary  considera¬ 
tions  Herringbone  is  used.  Yet  builders’  experience  proves  conclusively 
that  wood  siding,  “lap  boards”  as  they  commonly  are  termed,  or 
shingles,  with  their  many  disadvantages,  will  cost  not  less,  and  prob- 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


IN 


4 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


ably  more,  than  Herringbone  and  cement  siding.  It  also  is  clear  that 
the  architects  who  are  designing  Herringbone  Houses  are  leaders  in 
the  profession, — and  many  of  them  have  chosen  this  type  of  construc¬ 
tion  for  their  own  homes. 

Briefly,  Herringbone  is  used  in  this  way: 

After  the  frame  of  the  house  is  erected,  the  sheathing,  or  rough 
siding,  is  nailed  to  the  studding.  It  is  preferable  that  the  siding  be 
applied  diagonally — “on  the  bias'-  rather  than  straight,  as  this  greatly 
stiffens  the  framing.  Over  the  siding  y4-inch  wood  strips  are  nailed,  or 
strips  of  metal,  crimped  or  U  shaped,  are  stapled,  and  to  these  furring 
strips,  Herringbone  Lath  is  fastened  by  staples  or  wire.  The  purpose  of 
the  strips  is  to  allow  sufficient  space  behind  the  lath  so  that  when  the 
plaster  is  applied,  it  may  completely  envelop  the  metal,  and  protect 
it  from  corrosion.  Herringbone  is  unique  in  this  respect — that  the  coat 
of  plaster  applied  on  the  front  side  will,  if  it  is  of  the  proper  consis¬ 
tency,  spread  about  the  strands,  and  completely  envelop  them.  Some 
architects,  as  an  additional  precaution  against  corrosion,  specify  that 
the  lath  be  painted  or  galvanized,  and  it  may  be  had  with  either  of  these 
finishes. 

Several  coats  of  cement  plaster  are  used,  and  the  last  may  be 
finished  in  any  one  of  a  number  of  ways — smooth,  by  being  worked 
with  a  wooden  float  ;  slightly  roughened,  by  covering  the  float  with 
burlaps;  or  where  a  rougher  finish  is  desired,  the  surface  may  be  worked 
with  a  trowel,  small  pebbles  of  uniform  size  may  be  imbedded,  or  by 
means  of  a  wisp  of  twigs — the  Germans,  who  excel  in  cement  finishing, 
call  it  a  “besom" — very  wet  mortar,  rich  in  cement,  may  be  thrown  on 
in  drops,  giving  a  surface  of  any  desired  degree  of  roughness. 

The  matter  of  plastering  should  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the 
architect,  whose  knowledge  of  local  materials  and  methods  enables  him 
to  write  specifications  which  will  insure  the  best  results.  We  have, 
however,  copies  of  specifications  that  have  been  used  successfully  and 
these  will  be  furnished  to  architects,  owners  or  plasterers  who  may  be 
interested  in  receiving  them. 

Herringbone  Houses  do  not  show  the  thumb  marks  of  time.  No 
paint  is  required  to  preserve  or  beautify.  The  walls  grow  stronger, 
more  stone-like  with  age,  are  free  from  cracks,  seams  and  joints,  and 
will  not  burn.  Such  a  house  is  cool  and  comfortable  in  summer,  warm 
in  winter,  commands  a  low  insurance  rate,  and  insures  greater  safety- 
in  short,  provides  all  the  advantages  of  stone  or  masonry  at  the  cost 
of  wood,  and  is  from  every  standpoint  ideal. 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Residence.  Mrs.  Cyrus  Strong.  Binghamton,  N.  V. 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


i 


Residence.  General  R.  F.  Ligon.  Montgomery,  Ala. 
Architect,  Benjamin  Bosworth  Smith 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 

EELdHE  7  MB  — 


Country  Home,  E.  M.  Barton,  Sedgeley  Farm,  Hinsdale,  III. 

Architects,  Frost  &  Granger 


Architect.  Frank  I.lnycl  Wright 


Residence,  \V  \V.  Willets,  Highland  Park.  III. 


8 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


Residence,  T.  C.  Colket,  Bryn  Mawr,  Pa. 

Architect,  D.  Knickerbacker  Boyd 


9 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Cincinnati  Country  Club,  Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Architects,  Elzner  &  Anderson 


Residence.  Mrs.  A.  M.  Kintran,  Chevy  Chase,  Md. 

Architects,  Sonncinann  »V  Ma»  tier 


10 


Residence.  I.  H.  Kempner.  Galveston.  Texas 

Architects,  C.  \V.  Bulger  &  Son 


11 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFIN 


Architects.  Foltz  Ar  Parker 


Residence,  F.  Cl  Darlinyton,  Indianapolis.  Ind. 


12 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


Residence,  W.  F.  Vernon,  Beechmont,  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y. 

Architect,  J.  H.  McGuire 


^R&i 


Architects,  Foltz  &  Parker 


Residence.  Harry  Long,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


13 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Residence,  H.  J.  Schlacks,  Architect,  Wilmette.  Ill. 


Residence,  S.  Scott  Joy,  Birmingham,  Ala. 

Architects,  Whcclock,  Joy  &  Whcclock 


14 


Architect,  L.  C.  Waters 


Residence.  \V.  II.  rstorrs,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 


15 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Architects.  Miller  &  Martin 


Residence,  C.  A.  Stillman,  Birmingham,  Ala. 


Residence,  Noah  11.  Swayne,  2d..  Haverford,  Ra. 


lfi 


Arvliltccts.  M«  llvaln  *V  RokrU 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


Residence,  D.  \Y.  Kempner,  Galveston,  Tex. 


17 


Architects.  Mauran,  Russell  &  Garden 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Architects,  Foltz  &  Parker 


New  Orphans'  Home,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


im 

Hjij 

■l 

Wh\ 

I  1  1  Mill  I 

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itai 

Architect,  II.  S.  Price 


A  row  of  moderate-priced  Herringbone  Houses  on  Linwood  Ave.,  Ardmore,  Pa. 


18 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


Architects,  Saunders  &  Lawton 


San  Marco  Apartments.  Seattle.  Wash. 


Ill 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Residence,  E.  Wilson,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Architects,  Dennis  &  Farwell 


■ 


! 


Architect,  Will.  K.  Spink 


Residence,  S.  Marx.  Birmingham,  Ala. 


•20 


w* 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


wmmmam 


Architect,  A.  L.  Haley 


Residence,  Pomery  Powers,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 


Residence,  Wm.J.  Bliesner.  Architect.  Hollywood.  Cal. 


21 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Residence,  .1.  M.  Davidge,  Binghamton,  X.  V. 

Architects,  T.  I.  Lacey  &  Son 


1 


Architect,  Win.  !\  Rose 


Residence.  Hr  Bradshaw.  Hiirh  Point  N.  C. 


22 


a  -»*. 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


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I 


Architects,  Harris  &  Shopbell 


Residence,  S.  L.  Orr,  Evansville.  Ind. 


Architect,  F.  Ausfeld 


Residence.  W.  H.  Knowles,  Pensacola.  Fla. 


23 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Architect.  C.  Paxton  Cody 


Residence,  Rev.  R.  S.  Van  Cleve,  Erie,  Pa. 


Architect,  Curran  K.  I  His 


Residence,  Mrs.  L.  O.  Stevens,  Macon,  Ga. 


24 


W* 


HERRINGBONE  HOUSES 


Chi  Psi  Fraternity  House,  Hamilton  College,  Clinton,  N,  V. 

Architect,  F.  H.  Gou^e 


Architect,  H.  Tiffany 


Chenango  Silk  Mills  Office,  Binghamton.  N.  Y. 


25 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Stable  at  Residence  of  Henry  Siegel,  Orient  a  Point,  Mamaroncck,  N.  Y. 

Arcliitc,  t'.  \V.  II.  1  tunic  &•  Sou 


2b 


SYSTEM  FUR  REINFORCING  CONCRETE 


The  General  Fireproofing  Co.  System  in  use  in  the  construction  of  a  modern  fireproof  reinforced  concrete  building  for  the 
Victor  Talking  Machine  Co.,  at  Camden.  X.  J. 

Pin-Connected  Girder  Frames,  Cold  Twisted  Lug  Bars.  Expanded  Metal. 

Architects,  Ballinger  &  Perrot 


Which  h  ///  j  on  bui /cl  P 

-f/tcrete, 
uc/. 


The  building  that  did  not  burn  is  the  ALLSTEEL  Furniture  factor)  at  Youngstown.  O.  Reinforced  concrete,  with  brick 
curtain  walls.  The  General  Fireproofing  Co.  System  of  Pin-Connected  Girder  Frames  used  throughout. 

The  building  that  did  burn  was  “slow-burning"  construction— the  property  of  another  company. 


2' 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


A. 


The  New  Plaza  Hotel,  New  York  City 

Partitions  throughout  constructed  with  Herringbone  and  Universal  Steel  Corner  Bead 

Architect,  H.  J.  Hardenbergh 


New  York  City  Colleges 

Herringbone  Expanded  Steel  Lath  used  in  construction  of  partitions  throughout 
Architects,  Geo.  It.  Post  Sons 


28 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Typical  Construction,  Fireproof  Hollow  Partition 
Allunited  Steel  Studding.  Herringbone  Expanded  Steel  Latli 
Universal  Steel  Corner  Bead 


Typical  Fireproof  Roof  Construction  with  This  sit 


29 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


Typical  Cement  Siding  Construction 
Herringbone  Expanded  Steel  Lath  and  U  Furring 


IX  the  usual  construction  for  cement  siding,  wood 
sheathing  is  nailed  diagonally  to  the  frame  of  the 
house  and  is  covered  with  damp-proof  paper.  Furring 
strips,  spaced  over  the  studding,  are  applied,  and 
Herringbone  is  stapled  over  the  studding.  The  wall 
is  then  ready  for  plastering. 

Metal  Furring,  Crimped  or  U-shaped,  is  replacing 
wood  furring,  because  the  moisture  in  the  wet  plaster 
causes  the  wood  to  swell,  and  because  it  costs  less 
in  place. 

In  connection  with  cement  siding,  all  furring 
should  be  thoroughly  painted. 

U  burring  is  supplied  in  S-foot  lengths,  1-  pieces 
in  a  bundle.  The  stock  size,  %  inch  deep,  weighs 
approximately  q  pounds  per  100  feet.  Where  it  is 
desired,  we  furnish  3/g-inch  and  Us-inch  U  Furring. 

Crimped  burring  is  furnished  in  coils  ol  dl  feet, 
in  widths  and  approximate  weights,  as  follows: 


l-inch . weighing  .0835  pounds  per  foot 

-g-inch . weighing  .0027  pounds  per  foot 

■j-inch . weighing  .0417  pounds  per  foot 


Crimped  Furring 


30 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  CO  M  PAN)' 


Herringbone  Expanded  Steel  Latli 
"BB"  Grade 


Herringbone  Expanded  Steel  Lath 
"A"  Grade 


Boston  Steel  Lath 


Universal  Steel  Corner  Bead 


Columbia 


31 


5>v  ; 


THE  GENERAL  FIREPROOFING  COMPANY 


NO  MORE  EXPENSIVE  THAN  WOOD. 

Slower  firb> Insurance  rates. 


NO 


/  PAINT  BILLS. 
DURABLE  AS  STONE> 


LESS  DIFFICULT  TO  HEAT  IN  WINTER- 
LOWER  FUEL  BILLS. 

COOLER  IN  SUMMER- 
GREATER  COMFORT. 


